The Department of Environmental Conservation said it is conducting an “internal investigation” into the much-criticized seizure of P’Nut and Fred the raccoon at Mark Longo’s Pine City home.
Both animals were killed. They were likely decapitated.
Decapitated? That sounds a little psycho.
The state claimed they tested P’nut for rabies after he allegedly bit an agent on the hand. Longo said that is doubtful since the officers wore heavy protective gloves.
The Department of Environmental Conservation said it is conducting an “internal investigation” into the much-criticized seizure of P’Nut and Fred the raccoon at Mark Longo’s Pine City home.
Claims of Rabies Testing
The state claimed they tested P’nut for rabies after it allegedly bit an agent on the hand. That is doubtful since Longo said the officers wore heavy protective gloves.
“I’m hoping to give him a proper burial,” Longo told The Post of P’Nut’s last rites, which will be held through a fully functioning human funeral home that offered its space free of charge.
“An internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission,” a DEC spokesperson told The Post Friday.
Gov. Hochul’s office, the DEC, the state Health Department, and the Chemung County Health Department refuse to share animal testing results. Usually, these tests are revealed within 48-72 hours.
The center, which is supposed to publish monthly rabies reports, has not done so since June and has refused to answer if it has received any specimens from Chemung County recently.
“You claimed rabies. . . but you haven’t made a public comment on it?” a heart-broken Longo, 34, told The Post of the state’s reticence. “As a taxpayer, is my life and what you caused me not good enough to respond?”
A DEC spokesperson told Longo to file a Freedom of Information Request.
10 DEC Agents Raided His Home and Sanctuary for a Squirrel and a Raccoon
“They’re realizing in hindsight, this got out of hand. They did not handle it well,” state Sen. Dan Stec (R-Warren) said of the state’s response.
“I can’t think of any legitimate or lawful reason to conceal the results of the rabies test. It’s a matter of public health,” he added. “Where is the state secret here? Whose interest are they protecting?”
On Oct. 30, around 10 DEC agents descended on Longo’s 350-acre property, where he runs an animal sanctuary with his wife and cared for Fred and P’Nut in their home. The couple rescued the squirrel seven years ago after its mother was killed by a car and kept it as a household pet. Fred was rescued just a few months ago.
DEC Investigator Joshua Crain executed the search warrant after receiving a sign-off from Chemung County Judge Richard W. Rich Jr. the day before.
The search warrant only referred to the illegal housing of animals.
You apparently can’t domesticate a squirrel and a raccoon in New York.
The DEC said they are getting death threats. They haven’t been very honest, so don’t take that as absolute proof.
An agency of little significance can just send ten, some say armed, agents into a person’s home and steal their animals? This is the problem.
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“The Department of Environmental Conservation said it is conducting an “internal investigation”
Yup, we can sure feel comforted when leftist zealots investigate one of their own.
Just like the pets in Ohio, Peanut and Fred are martyrs in the struggle. Where is PETA? Yeah you heard me. Where in the hell is PETA??? What a fake leftist animal champion.
A few times in my legal career, I had cases where I discovered extraordinary incompetence by an unnamed government employee that caused harm. I would always try to ascertain the name of the specific employee who screwed up. The government entity would fight to the death to protect the anonymity of the employee.
Pressure needs to be kept on the agency that conducted the raid and ordered the euthanasias.
The best way to do this is for the public to demand to know the name of the employee who ordered the executions. The state of NY will NEVER divulge this information but by doing so will reinforce the image that is an
unaccountable Big Brother institution.
As a matter of common sense understanding of inevitable government run amok corruption; a few government beaurocrats should be ‘decapitated’ every year, just to keep the rest in line. Don’t like it, don’t seek gov power.
Have you seen the pics of the department head she looks like a German brownshirt from WW2